Collapsible boat



E. V. LANGEN COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Nov. 6, 1928.

Filed Feb. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ll'erol Lanyen,

A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 6, 19 28.

E. V. LANGEN COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Filed Feb. 2'7. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 16 27 Z1 Z3 2 a0 29 @a 9 LL 'I QT \M I N VEN TOR.

Eer0 l flianqen,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

f UNITED STATES PATENT O'FiF I -CEQ .EERO v. LANGEN, or FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS, I

, oo L PsrBLn BOAT;

Application filed February 27, 1 923. Serial No. 257,414.

This invention relates to a. collapsible boat and has for its object toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth a boatof such class which is strong, durable, comparatively light in weight, readily assembled or disassembled when desired, thoroughly eflicient in its use, capable of having the elements thereof when the'boat-is collapsed assembled in a compact manner and occupyingsmall space, convenientlyportable when assembled and disassembled, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Vith the foregoing and other objects in the" elements of I the boat in assembled p0siztion. r v Figure 2 is a fragmentary View inside elevation of the boat. I I e 1 Figure 3 is a planview. of the flexible body- :portion ofrthei'bout. w i Figure 4.1:, section on line' 4:4 Figure2. V v v Figure 5 'is Ea sidewiewofthelkeel member when-extended. ,7 v

Figure 6 is a bottomipla neof the keel "mem- "berwhen'extended. V V v Figure-"7 is atopplan-viewofa side memher when extended.

' Figure '8 is e side viewofa side member when extended. p I g Figure I 9ris a side r-view of the. keel member when folded.

' Figureilflris a side view-of the side member :whenipartly-folded. V

lFl-glllell, isenend-iviewof the central part .ofasidemember. g j" v FigurefllQ is aitop planvview of the keel member and side members arranged in a position to lee-foldedwhen the boat is collapsed.

Figure '13 is anendview-of the sideand keel members when folded inacollapsed position;

members when'folded.

Figure 15 is a detail illustrating an-end part ofthe keelmember. Figure 16 is a perspective view the body tensio ning devices.-

Figure 17 is an elevation of theribinember when extended in a position tobrace the side members. 7 1 "Figure 18.is a side-elevation. f Figure 19 is a top plan view ofthe-rib member whenextended.

Figure 14 is aside View of the keel-and side f am A collapsible boat in accordance with this inventionincludes auflexible boldy portionl,

and a framing including a'foldable keel member'Q-formed of a series-of sections hingedtogether, a series of foldable side members '3, 4,

5, 6, 7 and Sand each formed of a seriesof sections, hinged together, a series'ofifoldable rib members 9,110 and '11 ande-ach formed of a series of sections hingedtogethen, and a pair of tensioning members 12, 13 for body portion 1. '1

The body'portion 1 is formed of impeiwiousm-aterial, such as canvas, is "of oval-shaped contour andpprovided at each end with a pair of oppositely disposed triangular shaped flaps 14,715. The pairs of flaps are oppositely of the flaps of each pair is formed inprox'-' imityto 'a' longer edge thereof with a series of spacedopenings :16. The/body portion l w pairs of intermediate sections which are interposed between the centralsection -20 and the outer sections 18, 1'9. The sections of each pair of intermediate sections are indicated at 21, 22 and the latter is of greater lengththan theformer. The sectiOnQEZ h-as itstop edge provided in proximity to the section 21w'it-h- I a groove 28. The sections-22 of the pairsof intermediate sections .arehinged to the-central section 20, as at 24,, 25. The centralsecdisposed with rcspectto each other and-each tion 20 has its top provided witha groove'26; The outer section 18 is hinge'd'to one section 21, as at 27 and theoutersectionl') is hinged to the other section 21, as at 28. The-inner ends of the sections 18, 19' are beveled :asat 29 and the outer ends of the sections 21. a-re beVeledasatBO. Thej-bevels29-exten'din ope; V

sections 40, 41. The sections 3 posite directions with respect to the bevels 30. Each side of each of the outer sections is rabbetted as at 31, 32 and 33. Each outer section isformed with spaced, transversely extending openings 34. Each outer section is further formed with a horizontally disposed opening 35 having a threaded wall. The outer ends of the sections 18 and 19 are beveled as at 36. The side members are of like construction, with this exception that the members 3, 8 are of greater length than the members 4, 7 and the members 5, 6 are of less length than members 4, 7. The members 3, 4 and 5 correspond in length to the length of the members 8, 7 and 6 respectively. The construction ofeach of its side members is best shown in Figures 7 and 8 and each of which includes a central section 37, a pair of intermediate sections 38,39 and a pair of end sections 40, 41. The inner ends of sections 38, 39 are hinged as at 42, 43 to the ends or" section 37, and the outer ends of sections 38, 39 are hinged as at 44, 45 to the inner ends of 7, 38, 39, 4G and 41, when extended have lap joints therebetween, as the inner ends of sections 40, 41, both ends of sections 38, 39 and both ends of section 37 are provided with reduced apertured extensions as indicated at 46, Figure 10. The apertures in said extensions register when the side member is extended, and ex tending through each pair of registering apertures is a removable latching device 47,

see Figures 1 and 2. The outer end of section 40 andsection 41 is enlarged as at 48, beveled as at 49 and apertured as at 50. The sections 38, 39are apertured as at 51 and the section 37 as at 52.

The rib members 9, 10 and 11 are of like.

construction, with this exception that the member 10 is of greater length than the members 9 and 11 and these latter correspond in length. The construction of the rib members I is best shown in Figures 17, 18, and 19 and by reference thereto each rib member includes a central section 53, a pair of end sections 54, 55 and two pairs of intermediate sections.

The sections of one pair are indicated at 56, 57 and the sections of the other pair at 58, 59. The ends of each of the sections 53, 56, 57, 58 and 59 are oppositely beveled- The inner ends ofsections 54, 55 are beveled. The sec- .tion 53 is hinged to sections 57, 58 as at 60,

61. The sections 56, 57 are hinged together as at 6.2. The sections 58, 59 are hinged together as at 63. The mner ends of sections 54, 55 are hinged to the outer ends of sections 57, 59 as at 64, 65. Each of the sections 53, 54, 56, 57, 58 and 59 is formed with a central open The sections 57, 58 and 59 have enlarged ends to provioe grooves 66 and the sections 54, 55 are mortised as at 66".

Each tensioning member or element, best shown in Figures 2 and 16, comprises a bar 67 of triangular cross section having a rounded lower end 68. The inner side of the bar 67 7 is formed with a socket 69 for the reception of an adjusting means 69 therefor in the "form of a threaded bolt which threadedly en- The side members 3 and 8 have attacned to their inner laces spaced pins, eyes orhooks 71 which coact with lacin g members 72, 7 3 for securing the body portion 1 to the frame. Laoing members 74, 75 are employed for connecting the flaps 14 and 15 together over the top at the bow and stern of the boat. The openings 16 and 17 in the body portion 1 are provided for the passage of the lacing members.

When the framing is set up the keel memher 2 isfirst laid. The rib members are then mounted in the grooves of the keel member and secured to the latter by the removable holdfast devices 76. The side members are positioned in the grooves and mortises of the rib members and detachably connected to the latter by removable holdfast devices 77. The sections 40, 41 of the side members are also mounted'in the mortises of the sections 18, 19 of the keel member and detachably connected therewith by the removable holdfast devices 78. The bars 67 are arranged to 0ppose the sections 18, 19 ofthe keel member 2 and adjustably connected to said sections by the bolts 69. .T he body portion 1 is then laced to the framing and tensioned.

What I claim is:

1. A collapsible boat comprising a framing formed of a keel member formed of a series 01 hinged sections, a series of rib members seated in the keel member and formed of a series of hinged sections, a series of side members seating in the keel and rib members hinged sections, a series of rib members seatmg 66. The hinge connections between the sections are countersunk.

ed in the keel member and formed of a series of hinged sections, a series of side members seating in the keel and rib members and formed of a series of hinged sections, means for detachably connecting said sections together, a flexible body portion formed of impervious material, means for detachably securing said body portion against the sides, ends and at the ends of the top of said frame,

and tensioning means for said body portion positioned at the ends of and exteriorly of the keel member and adjustably connected to the latter.

3. A collapsible boat comprising a framing formed of a keel member formed of a'series of hinged sections, a series of rib members seated in the keel memberand formed of a series of hinged sections, aeseries of side members seating in the keel and rib members and formed of a series of hinged sections, means for detachably connecting said sections to gether, a flexible body portion formed of impervious material, means for detachably securing said body portion against the sides, ends and at the ends of the top of said frame,

and means for latching the sections of each of said side members from movement when connected to the keel and rib members.

4. A collapsible boat comprising a framing formed of a series of hinged sections, means for detachably connecting said sections together, a flexible body portion formed ofimpervious material, means for detachably securing said body portion against the sides,

endsand at the ends of the top of said frame,

tensioning means for said body portion positioned at the ends of and exteriorly of the keel member and adjustably connected to the latter, and means for latching the sections of each of said side members from movement when connected to the keel and rib members.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

EERO v. LANGENl 

